Australian Robert Whittaker walked away with an unanimous decision over Yoel Romero in the UFC 213 headliner at at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas last night.

Romero appeared to score effectively with side kicks to Whittaker’s knee in the first round before using takedowns and top control effectively in the second. After the fight, Whittaker said:

My knee was definitely hurt. I injured it in camp and Romero’s kick set it back weeks,” Whittaker said. “I know that Romero will capitalize on any weakness he sees so I had to play it off. That’s just what champions are made of.

Romero started to slow considerably in the final three rounds and Whittaker capitalised with his jab and some vicious hooks. In the fifth Whittaker secured top control and punished the now exhausted Romero with elbows and punches.

All three judges scored the fight 48-47 in favour of Whittaker.

Whittaker is now in title contention and, if all goes to plan, should fight Michael Bisping for UFC gold before the end of the year.

I’m ready to fight Bisping next,” Whittaker said. “I believe it was destiny for us to meet and I am looking forward to it.

Dana White agrees that Bisping-Whittaker fight will take precedence and was dismissive of a Bisping-St.Pierre superfight:

The Georges St. Pierre ship has sailed,” White said. “I’ve been saying that for a while. I had a press conference for that fight and it never happened. The main event [tonight] was awesome. This is the fight that should happen, and it’s gonna.